In a dramatic escalation, Minneapolis police arrested 12 individuals Friday during fervent protests targeting ICE’s immigration crackdown. DHS detailed the arrests on X, attributing them to attacks on officers amid chaotic scenes outside a federal building.
Rooted in tragedy, the unrest traces to January 7, when an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Good, 37. The administration defended the action as self-preservation against a vehicle ramming attempt; locals, however, decried it as excessive based on footage. Compounding matters, Wednesday brought another shooting: an agent injured a Venezuelan detainee’s leg, claiming resistance during cuffing.
Protesters, undeterred, massed at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building through Friday. Media coverage captured persistent crowds, galvanized by ICE’s aggressive posture—2,500+ arrests statewide in recent weeks, backed by 3,000 federal reinforcements.
President Trump didn’t mince words on Truth Social, slamming Minnesota Democrats for ‘total failure’ in governance. ‘Out of control,’ he fumed, hinting at direct intervention to ‘sort it out swiftly.’ This builds on his Insurrection Act threat from Thursday, aimed at restoring order to the ‘lawless’ state.
City leaders feel the strain. Mayor Jacob Frey cautioned that the unrest ‘isn’t sustainable.’ As federal might collides with grassroots anger, Minneapolis embodies America’s immigration divide. Will de-escalation prevail, or will Trump’s heavy hand reshape the narrative? The stakes couldn’t be higher.